Merit badge days are often hosted by local councils, districts, troops, civic groups, fraternities, or chartered organizations and held at a college campus, high school, civic area or during a camporee. Many merit badge events are held once a year as an indoor, outdoor, or combination event.

The largest merit badge event is the National Jamboree Merit Badge Midway, established at Fort A.P. Hill. Since 1981, this program has been held at each jamboree and is expected to feature hundreds of counselors offering nearly 100 merit badges to thousands of Boy Scouts at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree.

Since 1960, the Utah National Parks Council has sponsored a merit badge event called a Pow Wow. In 1970, the event began partnering officially with Brigham Young University. In 2009, over 4,300 scouts participated in earning merit badges at the event. In 2010, 32 different merit badges will be offered at this Pow Wow.

Contents

Overview

A merit badge event lets Scouts learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers. An event may focus on a single merit badge or a variety of fields that might not normally be available. Observatories, planetariums, parks, museums, ships, colleges, universities, as well as police and fire departments may offer special events available only to Scouts and only one day each year. Scouts might learn first-hand from dentists, veterinarians, doctors, lawyers, financial planners, engineers, chemists, artists, astronomers, scientists, firemen, policemen, and other experts.

Merit badge events may also offer training in Scout Skills through First Class with a schedule similar to an Advancement Campout. Adult training, and youth leader training are often offered as well. Regardless of the setting or topics, the goal is to have fun as you learn new skills and gain knowledge.

Often certain requirements must be completed outside of the merit badge event either as preparation or with a merit badge counselor at a later date. A merit badge event may focus on a single merit badge or offer a variety of topics such as:

Merit Badge Requirements and Policies

Qualified: "They must be men and women of good character, age 18 or older, and recognized as having the skills and education in the subjects for which they are to serve as merit badge counselors, as well as the ability to work with Scout-age boys. - Advancement Policies #33088, p. 13

Each Scout demonstrates the skills and knowledge for each requirement. Many merit badge events use Merit Badge Worksheets to allow Merit Badge Counselors to offer group instruction but still test each Scout individually. The counselor can see who is understanding and who will need more time. Optional worksheets require the Scout to be an active listener, not just hearing words, but showing understanding of concepts.

Controversies

Many merit badge events follow the Boy Scout Requirements and Advancement Policies. But some merit badge events instead state that it is the merit badge counselor, not the Scout, who is to demonstrate the skills and knowledge. They test the merit badge counselor, not the Scouts.

"Scouts that do not complete all of the requirements for a particular merit badge at the Eagle Quest will need to complete the badge with a registered merit badge counselor approved for that particular badge back in their unit."

"Each instructor will issue assignments to be completed by the Scout between session."

"Each of the programs below was developed to meet the needs of the respective badges, and staff at the Foundation are certified merit badge counselors. Some merit badges require more than one visit to the Foundation or extra activities to be done by the individual scout."

"Inability to answer questions or show proficiency of skills will result in non-receipt of the Merit Badge. In such a case there will be no refund of any fees. Scouts who do not receive the badge on their first attempt can return within 4 months for a fee of $10.00."

"To earn your merit badge, you will have to answer the questions posed in this booklet. Members of Alpha Chi Sigma, the professional chemistry fraternity, will aid you by leading discussions of the topics, answering questions, performing demonstrations, and helping you to do experiments."

"Merit Badge College is not a program that guarantees advancement. But, rather, it is an opportunity for Scouts to meet with qualified counselors, to help them earn the merit badges they need for advancement."

"Be certain the Scouts of your unit understand their obligation to fulfill the latest requirements and are in possession of the latest edition of merit badge books. "

"The MBC is a very resource intensive program and requires that we have at least one volunteer/instructor per 4 boys for each registered unit."